BILLY STARK insists end-of-season exertions on both sides of the border could put a spanner in the works of Scotland Under-21s’ Euro Championship hopes.

After naming a 22-man squad for the crucial clash away to Bulgaria on May 31 the national boss has to sweat on Jordan Rhodes coming through play-off action for Huddersfield unscathed as well as a trio of players on Scottish Cup Final duty.

There will be no call-up to the senior squad’s trip to the USA for Rhodes, who along with Bolton’s Gregg Wylde and Motherwell ace Stephen Saunders are the only additions to the Under-21 group that lost a friendly to Italy last month.

But Stark admits the timing of the game in Lovech is a minor headache.

He said: “Jordan is involved in the play-offs with his club but available to us for the Bulgaria game.

“He may miss a day or two if he’s in the play-off final. In terms of the big team, Craig Levein has said Jordan is available for us and I’m delighted about that as he’s made a big contribution not just in terms of his goalscoring.

“And Huddersfield have rested him for the last couple of games – which well help us as well – because it has been a long season for him.

“We have English play-offs to deal with and there are a couple of boys involved in the Scottish Cup Final as well.

“They will come to join us and maybe be deflated or ecstatic.

“That’s the thing about this match date, it’s not really one we would have wanted.”

Stark is expected to trim his squad down to a final travelling party and admits he’ll need to assess the fitness of his players, especially Wylde who has yet to play for Bolton after his move from Rangers was caught up in red tape.

The Under-21 boss said: “I have spoken to the Bolton coaching staff and Gregg has had a couple of bounce games and trained with the first team so that level of fitness is there.

“There’s always a wee edge in terms of match fitness which he has not been able to get.

“I’ve included him in the squad so he can show us what kind of condition and form he’s in. We always want creative, quick players and Gregg fits that bill.”

The Scots are second in Group 10, a point behind Holland with three games left, and Stark is hoping an impressive record on the road in this campaign will stand them in good stead.

He said: “International games are difficult to win at any level. It didn’t surprise me that Austria and Bulgaria made life difficult for us at home.

“We could have lost those games so hopefully they will be valuable points.

“Getting the win in Holland counter-balanced that because I don’t think anyone expected it.